Shared Progression

Dear Reader,

I have made more progress in my book! However, it is not the typical progress you might expect from someone authoring a book. If you have ever sat down to write a book about a specific topic, then you know how traumatizing ordering the chapters and organizing what goes where can be. In all honesty, I can write all day on each topic my book will contain, but when it comes to organizing in such a way as to make the book flow, I am lost.

Upon reading that, you might have yet another question: How have I made progress if this is such a stumping process? I have found a friend who loves to edit any and all sorts of writing! We sat down together a few nights ago and chugged through my book and chapter outlines. Already being exhausted from hanging out with junior high students all day at a church camp (a church I am interning for this summer), I was ready for bed, but she insisted. Her name is Ashleigh, and without her, I would not have a sturdy outline working for me....For The Process of a Pearl!

It took roughly an hour and a half of discussing what should go where and what I meant when I had previously typed out certain comments throughout the outline. We prayerfully considered the topics and their order, and what each topic would contain (since some of them could have similar sub-topics). As you can see, Reader, this is not an easy process. I am so thankful for Ashleigh's willingness and giftedness to help in such an area as this. It has already made a huge difference in my confidence for the book itself.

This goes to show how important accountable friendships are. Without them, can you truly move along in life, allowing yourself to view various situations through different perspectives? Many times, our vision is skewed by our circumstances, our upbringing, and even our environment (friendship circles, where we hang out, our work place, where we spend our time, thought, talk, and treasures). Other people can bring a new light into the equation, causing us to see things differently and learn something new. Accountability can keep us working out when we don't feel like it. Friendships bring encouragement when life throws its worst our way.

Just a thought I had in the midst of updating you, Reader...A thought that stemmed from the status-sharing of my book! I love being able to post about the progress of my book and be able to incorporate a life lesson as well. God is so good for how He provides and so much more!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

⁹ Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰ For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. ¹¹ Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? ¹² And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.